RD$179M scandal: Ex official says he resigned, but was likely fired

Santo Domingo.- More than a simple resignation submitted yesterday by National Assets (BN) director Elias Wessin Chavez, it was president Danilo Medina who allegedly and discretely asked him to resign, in the wake of a RD$179 million scandal stemming from an Accounts Chamber audit.

Wessin said he had placed his post “at the President’s disposal” after the audit revealed payroll irregularities of more than R $179 million paid to people without any function and other expenses.

At a press conference on Wednesday, Wessin called the Chamber audit “selective,” alleging that results from other agencies have yet to be released.

According to the audit, the BN paid more than RD$160 million to people who don’t do any work and RD$19 million in other unsupported expenses.

Media buzz

Wessin’s plight is the buzz on Friday morning media, with most opinion makers agreeing that medina fired him in an effort to squash the scandal.